Bedstead



UNITED SATES PATENT FFICE,

VILLIAM HUNTRESS, OF SOUTH BERWICK, MAINE.

BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,076, dated June 10, 1856.

To all whom t may concern Be it known thatl I, IVILLL-mr HUNTREss, of South Berwick, in the county of York and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bedsteads; and I hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the drawings herewith presented, which drawings constitute a part of said description.

My invention consists in providingl a bedstead as hereafter described with a register windlass foot rail and a lever for the purpose of straining and fastening a bottom of cords, pins and slats, having a smooth level surface.

Great objection to the common windlass bedstead arises from the uneveness occasioned by the cord being interwoven with or crossing over the slats and by such unevenness rendering the bed uncomfortable and wearing out the mattress or ticking in certain parts; whereas by my invention all these objections are obvia-ted, the surface of the slats is rendered perfectly smooth and level by placing the cords all below the slats and by placing the foot-rail or windlass (0,) half its diameter lower than the side rails, while my slats are kept in place by the broad headed pins (P, P,) placed in the under side of the slats near each end and interlaced with the cords as seen at (Fig. 3,) the slats may be placed so near together as to present one continued surface and all the elasticity of the cords end of the slats is preserved in its full extent; at the same time the bedstead is more convenient to use being more readily taken apart and set up again whenever it is to be removed from room to room.

To enable others to make and use my invention I proceed to describe its construction asfollows.

I construct the head and foot of the bedstead in the usual manner but I glue tlie head and foot boards to the posts of the bedstead. I make the head rail fast to the posts so it cannot be moved.

The side rails (B and B, Figure 1,) are placed on the same plane with the head rail; they are framed into the posts so that they may be removed at will from the head and foot. At the foot I place a round rail or windlass (0, Fig. l.) This footrail is not on the same plane with the side rails but placed half its diameter lower at top than the side rails. On the side of the rail or windlass I place twov strong broad headed pins (D, D,) see the drawings Fig. l, is an isometrical view of the bedstead.

Similar letters refer to the same parts in each figure.

Around the windlass near each end I cut the grooves (E E) in order to keep the cords in their places. I bore holes (0 0,) at equal distances around the middle of the windlass for the purpose of inserting the lever (L). This lever may be inserted or removed at will but is used for a permanent fastening. At the ends of the head rail are cut also grooves similar to those in the foot rail or the head rail may be made the windlass instead of the foot rail. Fig. 2 shows a section of the windlass (0,) and the lever (L,) secured by the chain (Y,) attached to the under side of the slat (S;) but when the head rail is the windlass then the lever may rest against the back of the head board.

The advantages of this mode of constructing bedsteads are the facility with which the bottom is strained, the rapidity with which the bedstead can be put up and taken down, and the increased convenience in making up the bed by having the footrail let down so as to give more room between the rail and the foot board; the pins with which the cords interlace prevent the slats from working endwise, which present a uniform even sur` face; they create no friction upon the cord and less wear to the ticking or mattress than the old device of lacing over and under the slats. The lever and chain makes a neater finish, is less expensive, and less liable to get out of repair than the old device of fastening wit-h a ratchet and pawl.

When I use this bedstead I tie the ends of the cord around the head rail and hitch the loop or double of the cord on the pin (1),) which is on the windlass (0,) shown at Fig. 2. I make the second or third slat from the windlass thicker in the middle than at the ends for the purpose of resisting the action of the lever (I). To the middle of this slatthere is a small chain or knotted cord by which the lever is held in its place.

side near each end 0f the slats and nterlaced With the cords as above described.

"WILLIAM HUNTRESS.

I do not claim the cords, slats, wndlass,

or any of the parte when used n the man- 1191er in which they have before been used;

What I claim as my improvement and desire to secure by Letters Patent is* The pins P, P, When placed in the under Vtnesses:

Gr. H. VVAKEFIELD, CHAS. E. NORTON. 

